V2-C103 How to Search the Bible - 05 - Knowing God's Will is the Church (2)

I. Understanding the Church: Unifying and Discerning Key Concepts

In the Bible, many seemingly different words and concepts actually point to the "Church." Understanding these synonyms helps us avoid confusion when reading the Bible and clarifies its core reference.

The Temple of God, the Holy Temple: Refers not to a specific building, but to the Church.

In Christ, in Jesus Christ: Refers to the Church.

The Body of Christ: Clearly refers to the Church.

The House of God: Refers to the Church.

The Tabernacle of God in the Old Testament, the Temple built by David and Solomon: Foreshadows the Church.

Mount Zion, Mount of Olives: In the Old Testament, these locations also foreshadow the Church.

Jerusalem, New Jerusalem: Refers to the people who make up the Church.

The Bride of Jesus Christ: A synonym for the Church, describing the relationship between the Church and Christ.
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is actually praying for the peace of the Church, seeking God's Kingdom and God's will, which is seeking God's Church.

The materials for building the Church are people. Each person is a precious jewel, and God uses these jewels to build the New Jerusalem, which is the Church.
The relationship between people and the Church is that of the whole and the individual. In Jesus Christ, those who build the Church are regarded as a noble people, a people who love God, disciples of Jesus Christ, and treasures in God's eyes.
The Church is not a building, but a group of people who love one another, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a common vision, Mingding Doctrine, mission, and purpose, jointly building the Body of Jesus Christ and God's glorious Church.
When people interact with others in the collective of the Church, their own problems and shortcomings are revealed. This provides opportunities for repentance and improvement, thereby making people holy.

We cannot cultivate alone, because solitary cultivation cannot see our own shortcomings clearly. In the Church, establishing relationships with people (such as pastoral relationships), generating unity, can cause people's shortcomings to be dealt with, thereby perfecting the saints.
Shepherding others is of great benefit to the shepherd himself. When the shepherd explains the Bible to people or solves the problems of those being shepherded, he himself will gain a deeper understanding and growth.
God's promises are obtained through God's Church. In the Church, in Jesus Christ, God's promises are faithful, and individuals are therefore included in the promises of Abraham.
The Apostle Paul lived out the image of God by shepherding people in the Church, rather than through charitable activities such as distributing supplies on the streets. Chinese Mingding Doctrine also emphasizes that the greatest charity is to shepherd well the people before you, train them, and help them create value, rather than simply giving money.
The collectivity and pastoral function of the Church are a manifestation of God's wisdom, effectively eliminating the ineffective and corrupt way of "solitary cultivation," because this way cannot build the Church.

The most important thing in examining the Bible is to know that "God's heart is the Church."
Advocating a top-down, whole-to-detail method of reading the Bible, first grasp the 1% of core concepts (such as "God's heart is the Church"), then delve into the 5% of the framework, then the 20% of secondary concepts, and finally look at the details.
The goal of reading the Bible must be clear: the goal is to build the Church. Only with clear goals, clear strategies, and the right methods can we accomplish God's work.

Accumulate pastoral materials and experience, do not be impatient, and move forward steadily step by step. Chinese Mingding Doctrine has accumulated rich pastoral materials through years of accumulation.
When doing anything, think from a high level and judge whether it is a "business" (that is, whether it is in accordance with God's heart and whether it has value). Do not jump in and do it easily, avoid ineffective busyness and unnecessary losses.
Whether reading the Bible or serving, we should have clear goals (building the Church), clear strategies, and the right methods, so that there is nothing that cannot be done.

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